What should you look for when choosing a school?

Visit on an ordinary day rather than an open day. Watch how staff speak to children when they are not performing for visitors — that is the culture. Ask about class size, teacher turnover, how they handle bullying and learning difficulties, and what the actual daily timetable looks like including how much unstructured play exists. Ask what happens when a child is struggling. Board and brand matter less than most parents assume; commute time matters more, since a long daily journey costs sleep and play every single day for years.